Epilobium tetragonum L.

Spice Flower - fruit detail Flower In the field

Family: ONAGRACEAE

Genus: Epilobium

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Eurosiberian

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches).

Characteristics: An erect herb, approximately one metre in height, very branched at the top. The leaves are linear, with a finely dentate margin. The flowers are pink, with petals that can reach one centimetre in length, but the ovary is much longer. When the fruit grows it forms a capsule nearly 10 cm long and when it opens it lets out the seeds which have a silky pappus. It flowers in summer and in autumn. It lives in moist places, like the sides of torrents (dry river beds).